A Full-time Life

SPACED OUT ON THE SPACE COAST

 

 Since we are originally from the West Coast (of the United States) it seems funny to hear people from where we live now in Florida refer to it as 'the West Coast.'   Of course they mean the west coast of Florida  – which is where Fort Myers is.   But it is still  East to us.

 

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Last week we took a little trip further East though (not by rocket ship!)  

We traveled to Florida's Space Coast — on the East side of the State, near the town of Titusville.

 We'd toured the Kennedy Space Center back when it was still operated by NASA (and hadn't been privatized) so this time the Center was just a drive-by photo-op on our way to exploring the area.

  

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 We spent most of our time on the Merritt Island Wildlife Preserve.     Beautiful skies were a lovely bonus to some great bird watching.

 

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Usually, when I shoot the moon, it seems like something magical and dreamy (just as it seemed when I watched it as a child).  But I had different thoughts watching it while we were so  near the Space Center.  

We are of the last generation to reach adulthood thinking that the moon was forever out of reach.    I wonder what children growing up now (like our great-grandchildren)  dream about when they look at the sky.   Just about everybody  they know (except us) has always known that the moon could be another place to visit someday.   

Linking this post to:   SKYWATCH FRIDAY (thank you to Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy);  to SCENIC WEEKENDS (thanks Gemma); and to GOOD FENCES (thanks Theresa)  (a little less obvious, but there is one up there):

 

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detail, Kennedy Space Center

 

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45 responses to “SPACED OUT ON THE SPACE COAST”

  1. Debbie

    fascinating!!! we went as a family, many years ago!!!

  2. Fotolosopher

    It’s been at least 27 years since we were at the Space Center! Must be very different now. Merritt Island we’ve always loved and I have a relative that lived in that area. There are still people who believe the moon landing was faked. They also believe the earth is flat. You can find them on the Internet.

  3. Dimple

    Hi Sallie,
    Love the shot from the wildlife preserve. And yes, Florida is definitely east! 🙂

  4. Carver

    Wonderful shots from the preserve and also like the spacey visit shots.

  5. Mari

    That’s a great place you visited. I think for the younger generation, going to the moon is like travelling to another country for my parents before.

  6. laura

    i need to get over to merrit island & the space coast area one of these days. i LOVE your moon shots!! beautiful!!
    hope you’re having a happy weekend.

  7. Stewart M

    Interesting idea about growing up thinking the Moon was out of reach – I think a good number of kids will have grown up in the 80s thinking, that is what we used to do – shame we don’t do it any more. Maybe things have started to change again.
    Cheers – Stewart M – Melbourne

  8. Phil

    If I ever get to Florida I would probably spend 99% of my time birding as it all looks so wonderful, especially with your sunny weather. With the other 1% I would definitely want to to visit the Space Centre and see where those moon shots took off from all those years ago. It was (and still is) a simply magnificent human achievement that I still find hard to comprehend when I look up at the Moon and beyond.

  9. Gattina

    How interesting to see the Kennedy Space Center ! I still remember when I saw the first pictures on TV when Neil Armstrong put his feet on the Moon ! Even if one day we could go there I prefer our good old earth !

  10. Colleen

    I remember reading that the people of Bali thought walking on the moon was a sin. My sister’s brother in law is an astronaut who has gone to space.

  11. Dianne

    Well, I for one would like to believe the moon was the way it was before we sent humans to the moon. From time to time when David and I watch the sky at night he always points out the satellites.
    The sky is full of ‘space junk’ and I find it as disgusting as the Sargasso sea where all the plastic disposed by humans around the Atlantic (east coast) ends up. I read an article recently that said the same phenomena is occurring in the Pacific. Humans can be such pigs.

  12. Peter B

    My little granddaughter loves pointing out the moon and stars to me. Great photos!

  13. Hildred Finch

    Beautiful photos Sallie! Dreaming in the moonlight is definitely a generational thing as I was thinking last week when I watch the space rocket go firing off to the heavens, belching smoke and fire. It seems such a common occurence now that nobody seems to hold these wonderful technical advances in awe any more.

  14. Jenn Jilks

    I so enjoy your travels!!!!

  15. artmusedog and carol

    Beautiful scenic shots of the East Coast of FL ~ wonderful series.
    Happy Weekend,
    artmusedog and carol

  16. rainfield

    For my generation, we thought of there was a fairy living up there on the moon.

  17. Ramblingwoods

    Love your moon photos

  18. Carver

    These are beautiful shots. I know what you mean about the west abd east coast issue. My brother lives on the west coast (San Francisco) and I think of the rest if us as being on the east coast including my sister’s place in Key West, FL.

  19. Valerie, Australia

    Wonderful shots of the moon Sallie. Happy weekend (and thank you too for dropping by my blog)

  20. Gemma Wiseman

    Wonderful views of the moon. The collage enhances the wonder of this beautiful icon.

  21. Coloring Outside the Lines

    Gosh, I remember when space flights were a BIG deal. I still try to watch if I can find it on tv..and I think there is a web site, also.

  22. Marie-AZ

    Very magical post, indeed! Lovely shots! We were at Epcot center once when our daughter was small and it was night and we happened to see one of the few night launches of the space shuttle in the distance. The big Epcot sphere was in view as we saw the shuttle go up, and it was a moment when I wished I’d had my camera on a tripod and knew what was about to happen! That was such a magical moment for us!

  23. Ratty

    I think seeing that rocket would be one of the coolest things ever.

  24. Felicia

    wonderful series of pretty images.

  25. Sondra-SC

    I also remember it as Cape Canaveral…long time ago…beautiful sky shots!

  26. Gaelyn

    I remember touring “Cape Canaveral” decades ago. But I’ve never dreamed of visiting the moon. I sure do like looking at it but there’s more than enough for me to see right here on Earth. If we don’t destroy it that is. The Wildlife Preserve looks delightful.

  27. Lavender Dreams

    What a beautiful area. We go to Canaveral National Seashore pretty often…it’s our favorite beach! Love your photos! WOW! You took some amazing photos! Enjoy your week. Hugs, Diane

  28. Photo Cache

    The wildlife preserve is what caught my attention here. I’d love to be there.

  29. Jim

    Top shot.

  30. RedPat

    I’ve never toured the Space Centre. I prefer Fla’s west coast I think.

  31. Eileen

    Hi Sallie, I loved visiting the Space Coast of Florida. The Merritt Island NWR is great too. Your photos are wonderful, have a happy day!

  32. Ida P. Krause

    Wow that is neat to see the rocket there behind the fence. I don’t think I’d want to visit the moon, not much to see from what I’ve read.

  33. Margaret Birding For Pleasure

    Lovely variety of different shots in this post. Kennedy Space Center must have been very interesting.

  34. Penny

    A great deal has changed as far as hopes and dreams. I hadn’t thought of it before, but, a man on the moon was such a fantasy when I was growing up. At any rate, you take such good shots of the moon, Sallie.
    We live on the west coast, too – of Lake Michigan. 🙂

  35. Carol Ann

    Great shots Sallie.

  36. NatureFootstep

    no magic about the moon ever more 🙁
    Fine set of shots Sallie 🙂

  37. Lady Fi

    Great shots of the moon and the means to get there… 😉

  38. Carletta

    We stopped by the Space Center years ago on a trip back from Disney World. Our son was small but wanted to be an astronaut then. He loved space toys.
    Lovely night shots! I still dream when I look at the sky. 🙂

  39. TexWisGirl

    a neat observation from you about space no longer being out of reach. even for private citizens. thanks for the unique fence, too, and lovely views.

  40. DeniseinVA

    These are great photos for SWF Sallie. I remember going to the Kennedy Space Station on my honeymoon in December 1975. Love the rocket photo, the one of the preserve is gorgeous and those moon shots are amazing. Have a great day my friend and thank you for these very enjoyable photographs.

  41. Southern DayDreams

    Great photos housing something so incredible at the space ship. Wonderful captures of the moon.
    What a wonderful spot to visit in the wildlife preserve too.
    Visiting from Good Fences.
    Have a great day.
    CM

  42. orchid

    Dearest Sallie; Oh My! Even though you said just ‘drive-by photo-op’, not many of us can see these things. Great scenery from ‘Wildlife Preserve’♬♬♬
    I remember my mother told me about the fairy tale about the princess called ‘Kaguya-hime’ who came from the moon; sweet memory of mine 🙂
    Hope you will have a wonderful coming weekend.
    Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

  43. EG CameraGirl

    It’s interesting to try to see the world through the eyes of children, isn’t it? Yep, their expectations will be so different from ours. The sunset colours are gorgeous!

  44. Hootin' Anni

    How fun!!! I’m enjoying you sharing all there is on your trip.

  45. Gayle

    Many, many years since I’ve been to either coast of Florida. Thanks for sharing of the Sunshine State.

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